Members events Travel, talks and walks

AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM

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travel

TOURS

After our wonderful trip to the NSW Outback in August, we’ve decided to venture a little further afield this time, to take in the best of the Western Australian Pilbara and wildflowers. It’s sure to be a real treat. We have also joined with our wine partner, Charles Sturt University Wines, and are taking a short sojourn to Orange as part of Food Week. We have thrown in some all-important astronomy and a museum visit too to keep the weekend full of fun and learning!

NIGHT TALKS: WE HEAR YOU!

After overwhelming demand we’ve changed the start time for Night Talks back to 6.30 pm. This gives everyone extra time to get here after their day’s activities. Our Night Talk series this time ties in with the new Tyrannosaurs: meet the family exhibition and the topics cover the beginnings of the universe through to dinosaurs. We hope you can join us for this diverse program. Book the full series for a generous discount, and in the first of the series hear from the exhibition team, enjoy light refreshments and be among the first to see the exhibition. From all of us here at the Museum, have a wonderful holiday period and summer!

SERENA TODD

Members Events Coordinator

Serena Todd’s photo by Carl Bento.

Orange, New South Wales: FOOD, Wine, Stars

WHEN 4–6 April

Join us on this 3-day autumnal tour of the beautiful Orange Region to partake in the annual FOOD (Food of Orange District) festival. We’ll begin with a special lecture by Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt about his quest to find the meaning of life, then we’re off to the Age of Fishes Museum in Canowindra, the famous ‘Dish’ in Parkes and more. Sip on fabulous wines from our partner CSU Winery and gaze at the stars with our special astronomy guest hosts. For more information contact Marnie on 1300 729 183 or info@fredwatson.com.au

Blossoming Astronomy of Western Australia

WHEN 18–28 August

Explore breathtaking national parks, dramatic Pilbara landscapes and stunning coastlines as you travel from Perth to Port Hedland. This 11-day tour features the Pinnacles, Monkey Mia and the Kennedy Ranges and includes all main meals, accommodation and ground transport. Some time will also be spent on this tour in the company of Professor Fred Watson as he takes us on a journey exploring first-hand the hybrid science of astrobiology during the spectacular wildflower season.

For more information please call 1300 729 183 or email info@fredwatson.com.au

Scan this code to your mobile device to find all Members travel, or visit our website. Above Join our special FOOD tour to the Orange district. Photo courtesy Justin Byrne, CSU Winery.

night talks

Night talk lecture series – deep time: earth, evolution and the dinosaurs

Enhance your experience of our new Tyrannosaurs: meet the family exhibition with these fascinating lectures from leading authorities.

TIME All lectures start promptly at 6.30 pm and finish by 7.45 pm, except Lecture 1 which includes exhibition viewing (from 5.15 pm) and drinks (from 6.30 pm), with lecture from 7 pm. COST Single lecture (Lecture 1): Members $35, non-Members $50 (includes exhibition viewing and refreshments) Single lecture (Lectures 2–8): Members $20, non-Members $30 Full Series (Lectures 1–8): Members $155, non-Members $245 BOOKING Phone 02 9320 6225 or visit australianmuseum.net.au/whatson

Lecture 1 Tyrannosaur tales: backstage at the best show in town

Glenn Ferguson and Bliss Jensen, Australian Museum WHEN Wednesday 29 January

Meet the team behind the Tyrannosaurs exhibition and find out how an extraordinary show like this all comes together. On this special night, you’ll also have the opportunity to view Tyrannosaurs after hours, enjoy a glass of wine and a nibble, and shop at our dedicated Tyrannosaurs store.

Lecture 2 The universe: the dark side

Dr Tamara Davis, University of Queensland WHEN Wednesday 5 February

In recent times we've come to realise that the expanding universe is only part of the story. In fact, everything we thought we knew about matter accounts for just 5 per cent of the universe, with the rest composed of mysterious dark matter and dark energy. Seems ludicrous? Let Tamara Davis explain what we know and what we stand to learn in the search for explanations.

Lecture 3 Earth evolution: from go to now!

Dr Lin Sutherland, Australian Museum WHEN Wednesday 12 February

Earth has experienced 4.6 billion years of constant change! Come and hear how core, mantle and surface events have added life and atmosphere, created continents and altered climates, leading to the geo-bio-diverse Earth that we depend on. Explore the history of the planet with Dr Lin Sutherland, and take this opportunity to see specimens from the Museum collection.

Lecture 4 Origin and early history of life on Earth

Professor Simon George, Macquarie University WHEN Wednesday 26 February

Join Professor Simon George as he tackles the mysteries of how, when and where life began on Earth. He will take you through some of the earliest evidence, the first animals and how living organisms influenced the climate and ocean chemistry. Is it possible that there was once life on Mars too? Come along and hear an expert perspective on this everpopular question.

Lecture 5 Spores, roots, shoots and leaves: how plants invaded then dominated dry land

Dr Peter Weston, Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust WHEN Wednesday 5 March

Dr Weston will talk us through the fascinating evolutionary history of land plants, from the first invaders to the highly diverse, more complex, and sometimes massive, flowering plants. What were the changes that gave some groups the evolutionary edge? And were they victims of their own success? Don’t miss this salutary tale.

Lecture 6 Our deep, distant origins – how the human body plan was built from early fish evolution

Professor John Long, Flinders University WHEN Wednesday 12 March

What does the early evolution of fishes tell us about modern-day vertebrates? For the past 26 years Professor Long has been collecting from the Gogo formation in northern Western Australia, including perfectly preserved threedimensional fish fossils that ultimately reveal the stories of our own bodies. Don’t miss this fascinating lecture from a global expert.

Lecture 7 Fierce creatures: tyrannosaurs and their meat-eating kin

Dr Anne Musser, Australian Museum WHEN Wednesday 26 March

Meet the extended family as Dr Anne Musser takes you on a tour of the tyrannosaurs and other therapods. The group includes many weird and wonderful meat-eaters, from the bizarre, pot-bellied therizinosaurs to the bird-like alvarezsaurs and the tiny, feathered Microraptor. Explore their world and new discoveries of theropods in Australia, including what may be the Southern Hemisphere’s first tyrannosaur.

Lecture 8 Fate of the dinosaurs: a perfect storm

Dr Andrew Glikson, Australian National University WHEN Wednesday 2 April

The discovery of the K-T boundary (a thin, distinctive layer found in geological sediments worldwide), and the realisation that it coincided with mass extinctions 65 million years ago, heralded a major shift in the long-running debate about the demise of the dinosaurs. Join Andrew Glikson as he presents the evidence for our theories of the events that wiped out so many, yet allowed others to survive.

adventurouswalks specialevents

TIME 9.30 am – 3.30 pm approximately COST Members $15, non-Members $20 BOOKING Phone 02 9320 6225 or australianmuseum.net.au/whatson

Navigating Northbridge

WHEN Wednesday 5 March

Discover Northbridge with walk leader Keith Robinson. Journey to Northbridge Plaza, Sailors Bay Road, the Aboriginal Heritage Centre, and much more. Visit Hallstrom Close, where Sir Edward Hallstrom once lived and even kept his very own small zoo!

The Mittagong Colliery Walk

WHEN Sunday 15 April

Explore the old Mittagong Colliery Walk in Box Vale with popular walk leader Ross Pearson oam. Meander through caves, cuttings and old railway lines.

Shopping weekend!

Once again Members can stock up at the Museum Shop and receive a special 20% discount, only from Saturday 30 November to Sunday 1 December, on all merchandise (including Feathers of the Gods)!

Friends around the Domain

WHEN Sunday 2 February TIME From 8 am at the Art Gallery of NSW VENUES Art Gallery, Royal Botanic Gardens, State Library, Sydney Living Museums, Lucy Osburn Nightingale Foundation Museum, John Passmore Museum of Art, Australian Museum INFORMATION See individual venue websites

Be part of the inaugural Friends around the Domain event! Join members of Sydney’s leading, and some lesser-known, cultural institutions to view exhibitions, listen to talks and visit special events – all in a special free day of discovery with like-minded culture lovers.

COST Members $15, non-Members $20 BOOKING Phone 02 9320 6225 or visit australianmuseum.net.au/whatson

Above Photo by Jeremy Austen.

WHEN Friday 7 February, Friday 21 February, Friday 21 March, Friday 11 April TIME 6.30 pm – 7.30 am COST Members: adults $120, children $150 non-Members: $140, children $180 AGES 5–12 years BOOKING Phone 02 9320 6225 or visit australianmuseum.net.au/whatson How would you like to spend the night sleeping in the brand new Tyrannosaurs exhibition at the Australian Museum?

Come to the Museum at night for a special pizza dinner, join in a fun T. rex craft activity, tour the Museum by torchlight, watch some DVDs with friends and then catch some zzz’s in the Tyrannosaurs exhibition, surrounded by the dinosaurs! Make sure you bring your camera to capture every moment of this larger-than-life experience.

Scan this code to your mobile device to find all Members events, or visit our website.

AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM MEMBERS SINCE 1972, SUPPORTING AUSTRALIA’S FIRST MUSEUM

NEW BOOK! FEATHERS OF THE GODS

AND OTHER TALES FROM THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM

Available only from the Museum Shop, phone 02 9320 6150, email shop@austmus.gov.au

RRP $50, Members price $45.

Above

Dr Frank Talbot am with specimen of Red Bass, Lutjanus bohar, from Feathers of the Gods. Photo by Stuart Humphreys. Exhibition preparator Mike Smith assembles a cast model of Albertosaurus for the Tyrannosaurs: meet the family exhibition. Photo by Stuart Humphreys.

EXPLORE

Volume 35, Number 3, ISSN 1833-752X

Explore, the news and events magazine of the Australian Museum and Australian Museum Members, is now published three times per year. Copyright Unless otherwise credited, all text and images appearing in Explore magazine are copyright © Australian Museum, 2013. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, you may not reproduce or copy any part of this publication without the written permission of the Australian Museum. Please contact the Editor for further information. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Museum.

Editorial committee

Brendan Atkins (Editor) Christine Callen (Marketing Manager) Maxine Kauter (Research & Collections) Serena Todd (Members Events Coordinator) Design management Louise Cornwall Design and layout Jeremy Austen and Australian Museum Design Studio Original design template Stephen Goddard Production Jenny Hooker Advertising Brendan Atkins 02 9320 6249 Prepress Spitting Image Printing Southern Colour We welcome your feedback, comments and enquiries. Email the Editor at explore@austmus.gov.au Frank Howarth’s photo by Carl Bento

Australian Museum

6 College Street Sydney NSW 2010 Open daily 9.30 am – 5 pm (closed 25 Dec) t 02 9320 6000 (switch) t 02 9320 6225 (Members) australianmuseum.net.au President Catherine Livingstone ao Director Frank Howarth psm

Environmental responsibility

Explore is produced using carbon-neutral processes under an ISO 14001 environmental management system. It is printed on ecoStar, a carbon-neutral paper made from 100% post-consumer recycled waste, using alcohol-free, vegetable-based inks made from renewable sources.

position guides only to be replaced by Southern Colour

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The Australian Museum strives to inspire the exploration of nature and cultures. We would like to acknowledge the benefactors and corporate partners who support us in achieving this vision.

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GIFTS TO COLLECTIONS

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Anindilyakwa tribe Charles M Ellias John L Gordon Mark Hanlon J Holliday The late John Hume Leighton Llewellyn Mineralogical Society of New

South Wales Inc George and Edna Oakes John Rankin Paul Scully-Power Trevor Shearston Muriel Snell Professor Günther Theischinger

AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM FOUNDATION

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